Diamond industry to ban benzene

Media reports linking physical ailments to use of benzene in marking and cleaning diamonds has led the Surat diamond industry to ban the hazardous chemical.

"We have asked the diamond manufacturers to stop using benzene. They have assured that the hazardous chemical would not be used in their units in any form or for any purpose.

"From Sunday onwards, the use of benzene has been stopped entirely in the diamond industry of Surat," said Nanu Vanani, president, Surat Diamond Association (SDA).

We have asked all those diamond manufacturers, who use planner machines (in which benzene is used) in their units, to send their workers operating the machines, for blood tests, he added.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a leading diamond manufacturer of Surat, said, "Benzene has been in use in the diamond industry forthe last four to five years. However, many manufacturers were not even aware of the serious health hazards posed by the chemical. Now that we know about the potential dangers posed by benzene, we will stop using it."

Vanani said the industry was shocked by the reports that four workers of city-based Pankaj Diamonds had been diagnosed of bone marrow failure, or aplastic anaemia, allegedly due to use of benzene.